Dentists blow the lid on Australians' curious bathroom habits

Behind the nation's bathroom doors lurk a whole range of quirky oral habits millions of Australians may want to keep a secret.

But laid bare here are some of our most curious habits unmasked, thanks to the ADA's survey of 25,000 people released today during Dental Health Week. (1)

* Firstly, it may come as a huge comfort to Australian parents to know they’re not alone with basin battles, with 43% regularly struggling to get kids to clean their teeth.

* In the battle to get kid’s teeth clean, 24% parents provide positive intervention such as entertaining their kids or brushing with them at the same time, while 21% parents offered rewards, 20% parents removed privileges, 20% resorted to discipline and 9% just “gave up.”

* While 85% of kids stay in the bathroom to brush and floss, the rest wander around the house, onto the balcony or out into the garden. “This presents a choking hazard with young children, and they won’t be getting the job done properly without a mirror or adult assistance,” said the ADA’s Oral Health Promoter Dr Monica Farrelly. “Keep the bathroom as the only place kids do the brushing and flossing - and perhaps offer rewards for staying put!”

* But it’s not just kids who get distracted as one in five (19%) Australian adults multitasks while teeth cleaning, with 31% using their phone, 16% knocking out household chores like cleaning and laundry, 12% listening to music or a podcast, 10% shaving or doing skincare, 9% attending to children’s needs, 6% going to the toilet and 5% taking a shower, watching TV, exercising or cooking.

“How some of these other tasks are executed with any accuracy is hard to imagine,” said Dr Farrelly. “The important thing is to literally stand still in front of a mirror when you’re brushing and flossing so you can see if you are doing it correctly. Without a reflection to see, there’s a degree of guesswork.”

Other fun facts

* $6.20 is the average amount the tooth fairy leaves per tooth. It was $2 a tooth 25 years ago, around a third of today’s rate.

* 21% become nervous before visiting a dentist for a check-up, however modern dentist education includes skills to manage anxious patients with a range treatment protocols to reduce anxiety.

* 42% of couples use different coloured toothbrushes to avoid using each other’s – a great idea to ensure your partner’s germs don’t become yours. The same goes for children’s toothbrushes – keep them all apart and labelled if needed.

* 47% don’t know what toothbrush bristle strength is suitable for them – the ADA recommends a soft toothbrush as medium and hard bristles are too abrasive and can damage teeth and gums.

* 73% normally brush their teeth for less than 2 minutes per session – the recommendation is two full minutes – use a timer or an app to ensure you and the kids do it for that long. And follow through with daily flossing or cleaning between every tooth to ensure the remaining food debris is removed.

* Nearly one in 5 people clean their tongue daily. “This is great as it removes bacteria that sits on the top of the tongue and can contribute to bad breath and tooth decay,” said Dr Farrelly. “Also, plaque sitting on the tongue can produce acid which results in further opportunities for tooth erosion.

“While some of these habits sound a bit odd and off the wall, it’s important to consult with your dentist about how to effectively maintain your oral hygiene at home and prevent any serious dental problems developing.”

Sources

1.All data published here is from the ADA’s annual survey of 25,000 Australians. Excerpts may be shared in piecemeal but not the survey in full.